The southern Philippines have been off the dive map for a few years due to unrest around the large island of Mindanao, but stability in the region has seen Davao open back up for intrepid foreign travelers. It’s easy to get there, a quick flight from Manila with Cebu Pacific, and the diving is equally easy to access too – despite Davao being a huge port city, within 20 minutes of heading out from the marina, you’re in the middle of the huge Davao Gulf, with the pristine Samal Island fringed with palm trees and beaches dead ahead.

The diving around Davao is great if you want to find weird and wonderful critters and don’t mind the viz being a bit turbid. The local guides can’t do enough to help you and are justifiably proud of the diving in the area. Now’s the time to go before everyone else gets there…

You can read more about Davao in my article in the current issue of Scuba Diver Australasia – it’s the cover story, Diamond In The Rough

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